Magnetic switch operating mechanism



Jan. 16, 1951 J. c. PONSTINGL ET AL 2,

MAGNETIC SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM Filed July 30, 1948 Fig.4.

INVENTORS John C.Ponsflngl 0nd Il3 Y:| rlrence Pierce.

WITNESSES:

ATTOR NEY Patented Jan. 16, 1951 MAGNETIC SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM John C. Ponstingl and Lawrence Pierce, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 30, 1948, Serial No. 41,494

Our invention relates to electromagnetic contactors and more particularly to the electromechanical interlocks usually used with electromagnetic contactors and relates to improvements and additions to the subject matter disclosed and claimed in the copending application of John C. Ponstingl, Serial No. 5,358, filed on January 30, 1948 and entitled Operator for E160,- tric Switches.

Whenever an auxiliary electric switch is to be coupled to the magnet and is to be operated by the'magnetic armature in addition to the operation of the electromagnetic contactor, several problems immediately call for solution. Suitable links and lever mechanisms must be added, andsuch links and mechanisms as a rule provide off-center loading if the interlocks are not operated on the center line of motion of the magnet, namely, the solenoid actuated part. Such offcenter loading however small introduces exces-" sive wear on the armature guiding mechanisms.

One broad object of our invention is the provision of lever mechanisms of an electro-mechanicalinterlock that produces no off-center loading.

Another object of our'invention is the provision of interlocks for electromagnetic contactors that require no extra mechanisms and produce no off-center loading.

Other objects of our invention will become more readily apparent from a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing, in which:

' Figure 1 is a plan view of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of our invention, and

Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views of details of our invention.

In the figures of the'drawing, the reference character I designates the base or control panel to which our device, in use, is secured. The E- shaped magnet 2 is provided with a pair of heavy laminations 3 at the outer surfaces, which laminations are provided with the flanges 4 and 5 for mounting the E-shaped magnets to the base I.

- The magnet structure is" so mounted on the base l-that the open part of the E faces downwardly, that is, the legs 6, 1 and 8 are directed down, and with the stem 9 being disposed so as to project horizontally from the base. The disposition mentioned of the parts is the usual one in use but our invention is not limited in use to the particular position shown and described. The disclosure of our device with reference to a vertical base I is merely illustrative.

The middle leg I, or core, carries the energiz- 8 Claims. (Cl. 200-87) of two parts identical in shape.

ing coil l0 held in place by friction or some simple readily displaceable coil holding means not constituting part of our present invention.

To the forward leg 8, we secure the generally rectangular plate I I. This plate II is provided with tabs, or tongues, l2 and I3 that project beyond the upper surface of the stem 9 and the lower surface of the armature 14. These tabs are slightly undercut at the junction of the tab with the main portion of the rectangular plate. The amount of undercut is such that the transverse dimension of the tab at the undercut is substantially equal or a trifle less than the distance between points I5 and It on the frame I! shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The frame I! is constructed of very thin tough sheet metal to provide a knife edge bearing element on the tab necks when the parts are assembled as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The armature carrying operator is built up The right-hand part, or side member, 2| is a generally U-shaped flat member having outwardly directed feet 22 and 23 connected to the ends of the legs of the U. The upper foot 22 has a toe member 24 bent at right angles toward the left, as seen in Fig. 1, of the foot 22. The toe member 24 is provided with a rearwardly directed projection 25 to which certain switch elements to be operated are secured.

The lower foot 23 is provided with a toe member 26 bent at right angles toward the leftof the foot 23. The toe 26 is provided with a pro- The left-hand part, or side member, 3! of the armature operator is identical in shape to the side member 2| but in assembled position with reference to side member 2|, the side member'3l is turned through a half circle on a horizontal axis normal to plate H. The left-hand part has the parts 34, 35, 36, and 37 which correspond.-

respectively, to elements 24 to 21 as to structure and substantially as to function. v The tabs I2 and I3 on the surfaces facing the tabs 21 and 31 are provided with spring-positioning buttons not shown.

The upper frame H is hooked over the tab [2 and tab 37 whereas the lower frame I1 ishooked over the tab 21 and the tab 13. A com- 'piession spring 4| is disposed between the tabs l2 and 3?. A similar compression spring 12 is disposed between the tabs 53 and 2?. The springs Al and 42 thus subject the frames H and il" to tension and the armature carrying operator is thus held on plate i l. The elements H, il, ll, 2|, 3!, M and 42 thus form a unitary assembly, or armature carrying operator, that may be mounted on the E-shaped magnet as a unit. The armature carrying operator thus in structure and function may be viewed as a parallelogram construction having pivotally connected end and side members. The rigidly interconnected tabs l2 and I3 comprise one side member, the rigidly interconnected tabs 27 and 31 comprise the other side member, and the frames ll and ill comprise the end members.

The armature M is secured to the armature operating member by a suitable shaft E5 rotatably disposed in the bearings 46. From the foregoing descripton, it is apparent that the armature actuated parts move substantially rectilinearly, since the construction is functionally in the nature of a parallelogram having pivotally mounted side members and end members.

Further, since the frames l l' and ii are of relatively thin material, the bearings for these frame members are substantially knife edges. Friction loss is thus a minimum.

The usual application of the type of device described in certain of the preceding paragraphs requires the addition of interlocks. In some instances a single make contact interlock suilices, whereas in other applications both a make contact and a break contact interlock are needed.

In our showing both a make contact and a break contact interlock are illustrated with the electromagnetic contactor.

We mount the interlocks 5i) and 5! on the front face of plate H. The interlock so is so mounted that the actuating button 52 is at the top. To actuate the button the frame if is provided with the extension 53. It will be noted that the extension is symmetrical with reference to the 1011- gitudinal axis of the frame 11.

When the operating members 2i and 3! move upwardly as a unit the front end, namely, the extension 53, of the frame ll, since it pivots on the tab 12, moves downwardly to operate the button 52.

The interlock 5| is mounted near the lower end of the plate H and the mounting is such that the button 5 1 is directed downwardly. To actuate the button 54 the frame H is provided with the extension 55. This extension 55 is disposed symmetrically with reference to the longitudinal axis of the frame. This symmetrical disposition of the extensions 53 and 55 on frames I1 and H, respectively, produces no off-center loading on the main magnetic actuating part. The operator comprising the members 2| and 3| is thus free to oscillate in its generally vertical direction.

When the operating members 2| and 3! move downwardly as a unit, the front end of the frame l'l', namely, the extension 55, moves upwardly to actuate the button 54. Further, the extensions 53 and 55 are provided with the elongated slots 57, respectively. A center line contact is thus sign, which is usually the case, then upward operation of the cage will cause opening of the auxiliary circuit controlled by one interlock and the closing of another auxiliary circuit which is controlled by the other interlock 5|. Upon reverse operation of the cage a reverse operation of the circuits is had.

The frames 11 and IIare identical in design, being made by the same stamping die. When only one interlock is needed, say, the upper one, then the frame :I 7 is in use changed end for end so that the extension extends toward the rear so that no seemingly useless projections face the front.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that our interlock actuation of structure is extremely simple, involving no extra pieces that need be added either to the magnet structure, the armature, or the interlock. Further, off-center loading is entirely eliminated, thus improving the mechanical performance. Our interlock actuating device may be used with pneumatic switches, timing relays, etc, having a similar actuator as our cage.

While I have shown but one embodiment, except for the frames I1 and 11', my invention is not limited to the single showing made but is to be limited only by the scope of the claims hereto appended.

W e claim as our invention:

1.111 the combination of an electromagnetic switch and an electro-mechanical interlock. comprising, a magnet structure .provided at its aft end with means for supporting the structure on a suitable base, an energizing coil for the magnet structure, a plate mounted on the forward end, said plate being longer than the height of the structure and so mounted on the structure that the ends thereof at each end project beyond, that is, above and below the magnet structure, an operating member including abutments disposed transverse of the upper and lower endsfof the magnet structure, an. armature mounted on the lower end of the operating member for actuating the operating member, an elongated frame-of relatively thin flat material disposed to have its ends hooked over the upper abutment of the operating member and the upper projecting end of the plate, a similar frame at the lower end of the operating member similarly disposed between the plate and lower abutment of the op crating member, two compression springs disposed respectively between the upper projection of the plate and the upper abutment and the lower projection of the plateand thelower abutment, a switch mounted on the front surface of the plate, a vertically operable button for said switch, said frame being provided with ;a forwardly directed extension to the front =of the region of the frame hooked over the projection on the plate and positioned to actuate the button upon vertical movement of the operating member by said armature. I I

2. The combination of an electromagnetic contactor and an interlock switch, comprising, an E-shaped magnet structure having a stem and three legs, means on one of the outer legs for mounting the structure on a suitable base, an energizing coil on the middle leg, an armature operable by energization of said coil, -a ,plate -secured to the edge of the other'outer leg, saidplate projecting beyond the edge of the-stem and the ends of the legs, an armature carryingoperator having a pair of cross-bars, one normally disposed in spaced facing relation to one end of the tion to the other end of the plate, said armature being secured on the operator adjacent the crossbar disposed in facing relation to the end of the middle leg, said operator having side members disposed in closely spaced relation to the leg carrying the plate to thus guide the operator for movement parallel to the faces of the E-shaped magnet structure, a rectangular frame of relatively thin material hooked over one end of the plate and on the cross-bar disposed in facin relation of the one end of the plate, a second sim ilar frame similarly mounted at the other end .of'

the plate and corresponding cross-bar, two compression springs one disposed to coact with one plate end and corresponding cross-bar and the other disposed to coact with the other plate end and the cross-bar facing this other plate end, a switch mounted on the front surface of the plate, said frame being provided with a forwardly di rected extension extending to the front of the plate and being disposed to actuate the switch upon actuation of said operator.

3. The combination of an electromagnetiiicontactor and an interlock switch, comprising, an E-shaped magnet structure having a stem and three legs, means on one outer leg of the structure for mounting the structure on a suitable base, an energizing coil on the middle leg, an armature operable upon energization of said coil, a plate secured to the edge of the other outer leg, said plate projecting beyond the edge of the stem and the ends of the legs, an armature carrying operator having a pair of cross-bars, one normally disposed in spaced facing relation to one end of the plate and the other similarly disposed with relation'to the other end of the plate, a flat projection on each cross-bar disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the plate, said armature being secured on the operator adjacent the cross-bar disposed in facing relation to the end of the middle leg, said operator having side members disposed in closely spaced relation to the leg carrying the plate to thus guide the operator for movement parallel to the faces of the E-shaped magnet structure, a reotangular frame of relatively thin material hooked over one end of the plate and on the projection on the cross-bar disposed in facing relation to the one end of the plate, a second similar frame similarly mounted at the other end of the plate and corresponding cross-bar, two compression springs one disposed to coact with one plate end and corresponding cross-bar and the other disposed to coact with the other plate end and the cross-bar facing this other plate end, said frame having a forwardly directed projection falling generally in the longitudinal axis of the frame and projecting a short distance in front of the point where it is hooked over the end of the plate, a switch mounted in the path of the projection on the frame to thus be operated by the actuation of the operator.

4. The combination of an electromagnetic contactor and an interlock switch, comprising, a magnetic base, a parallelogram construction comprising an armature carrying operator including a pair of spaced side members provided with tabs at their ends, which tabs are disposed between and in perpendicular relation to the ends of the side members, fixed tabs secured to the base respectively in facing relation to the tabs on the ends of the side members, a pair of end members in the general shape of a picture frame having their ends hooked over corresponding tabs 6 on the side members and base, a compression spring disposed between the tabs at one end, a

similar spring similarly disposed at the other end:

whereby said springs hold the parallelogram construction together as a unit, an armature secured to the operator, means for actuating the armature, a switch secured to the base on the front surface of the base, and a projection on the front end; of one end member disposed over the switch and adapted to operate the switch upon actuation of said armature,

5. The combination of an electromagneticcontactor and an interlock switch, comprising a base, a parallelogram construction including a pair of side members and a pair of end members of an open frame type of thin flat material hooked over corresponding ends of the side members, two compression springs disposed respectively between corresponding ends of the side members substantially within the frame of the end mem-. bers to thus hold the side members and end mem bers together, securing means for securing one side member to the base with the inner surface facing the base, an armature secured to the other side members, coil means for actuating the armature, a switch securedto the outer surface of the one of the side members secured to the base, and a projection at the mid-portion of one of the end members disposed to actuate said switch upon energization of said coil means.

6. The combination of an electromagnetic contactor and an interlock switch, comprising, a parallelogram construction including a pair of side members and a pair of open frame end members of thin material hooked over correspondingends of the side members, two compression.

springs disposed respectively between corresponding ends of the side members substantially within the frames of the end members to thus hold the side members and the end members together, a magnet structure, one of said side members being in the form of an open frame to receive the magnet structure between the edges of the frame, means securing the other side member to one endof the magnet structure in such manner that the rear surface of the side member is adjacent the magnet structure, means at the other end of the magnet structure for securing the magnet structure to a suitable base, or control panel, an armature secured at the region of one of the freely movable corners of the parallelogram construction, an energizing coil disposed on the magnet structure for actuating said armature, a switch secured to the front surface of the side member mounted on the magnet structure, a button for actuating the switch, and a projection, at the middle of the end edge of one of the end members, disposed to actuate said button upon energization of said coil.

7. In operating means for electric switching means, in combination, a base, a fiat member mounted on the base and having two tabs projecting from opposite edges thereof at substantially diametrical regions of the member, an armature carrying operator in the form of an open frame having two tabs projecting from opposite ends of the operator, the dimensions of the operator and disposition of the tabs on the operator being such that when the operator is in its normal position a tab at one end of the operator is disposed in spaced facing relation to a tab at one edge of the flat member and the other two tabs on the flat member, and operators are similarly disposed with respect to each other, a rectangular open frame member of relatively thin material hooked over one pair of facing tabs and a similar rectangular open frame member of relatively thin material hooked over the other pair of facing tabs to thus form .a parallelogram type assembly, two compression springs one disposed substantially in the plane of one rectangular frame member and the other disposed substantially in the plane of the other rectangular frame member, one spring thus engaging one pair of facing tabs and the other spring engaging the other pair of facing tabs to thus subject the rectangular frame members to tension, switching means mounted on the flat member on the side remote from the position of the armature carrying operator, an extension on one of the rectangular open frame members projecting in operative relation to the switching means, whereby parallel operation of the armature carrying operator with respect to the flat member causes the extension to operate the switching means.

8. In operating means :for electric switching means, in combination, a fiat plate, a magnet structure, said plate being secured to the magnet structure in. a vertical position, an armature carrying operator having ends when the operator isin its assembled and normal operating position disposed in parallel relation to the ends of the plate, a pair of rectangular frames each of relatively thin material and generally in the shape of a picture frame, except that one end of each frame is provided with an extension, one of the frames being hooked at one end over one end of the plate and the other end over the facing endof the operator and the other of said 5 frames being similarly mounted at the other end of the plate and the corresponding facing end of the operator, a pair of compression springs one disposed between one end of the plate and the facing end of the operator and the other 8 spring similar disposed between the other :facing ends of the plate and operator to thus subject said frames to tension, said magnet structure fitting into the operator, said plate being secured to the magnet structure whereby the operator is free to move substantially rectilinearly, an armature secured to the operator member in the region of one of the end portions, an energizing magnet structure for acting on the armature, switching means mounted on the outer face of the plate :at the upper end thereof, a vertically movable button for actuating said switching means, said switching means being so mounted on the upper end of the plate that vertically upward movement of the operator, through the extension on the upper frame actuates the button downwardly, a second switching means mounted on the outer face of the plate at the lower end thereof, vertically movable button for actuating said switching means, said second switching means being so mounted at the lower end of the plate that vertically downward movement of the operator, through the extension on the lower frame, actuates the button for the second switching means upwardly.

JOHN C. PONSTINGL. LAWRENCE PZIER'CE.

REFERENCES CIT-ED The following references .are of record in the of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,016,329 Jones Feb. 6, 1912 2,266,536 Cooper Dec. 16, 19:11 2,283,795 Dahl May 19, 11.942 2,304,972 Van Valkenburg et al. Dec. 15, 19.42 2,433,710 Schleicher Dec. 310,, 19.4.7 

